Cousin Audrey Dobkin Brett
At four thirty PM on Sunday the 30th of August, 2015 my Mother’s last living first cousin Audrey Dobkin Brett cast off the shackles of this life and left this world behind. Audrey was born on August 13, 1926. She was a Dobkin but the Dobkins and the Levines (my grandparents) were kin and inextricably intertwined. My Mom was born on June 12, 1910 on the tobacco farm in Ellington, Connecticut. Audrey and all of them grew up in that strange mix of Old World Jews… and became those freethinkers who would help shape this nation over the next century.
She was always an innovative thinker, outspoken with no verbal boundaries and a great lover of family! She took me and Vanessa and Izze and Zach to her heart and never let us go. She honored us all with her boundless love. She was a living connection to the Old Ones up there in East Windsor… yet she was always totally in the moment!
…and she was my friend.
A great one has left this plane, and if you choose to believe in such things, heaven is the richer for her presence for that is surely where she would be. I shall miss seeing her up in Rhode Island… I shall miss her emails… the occasional phone calls and well… I shall miss her.
We love you Audrey… always…
Fair winds and following seas!
Dear Jorma,
So sorry for the loss of your family member. May she RIP.
Cyndy
Jorma – sounds like we’re all the richer for Cousin Audrey’s love and those who shared her wonderful traits. I have no doubt her crown is full of stars.
b.
As I hit the hay last night, the song “Today” from Surrealistic Pillow came to mind. Not exactly a rocker, but as I thought about the song and the time it was recorded, it left me immersed in a sad, nostalgic funk. It made me feel very lonely – almost depressed; frightened.
I had to you tube it tonight, and listened to the live version at Monterrey from 1970. The somberness of the song seem to tie in well with your reflections. I forgot how good Grace Slick was.
I told a friend about it, and lamented that those” were the good ol’ days.” Of course he fired back and said “but these are the days too, aren’t they.” After telling him that Carly Simon indeed thought so, I stated, “well, yeah they are, but at least for that moment of quiet reflection last night, they weren’t quite the same.”
As Dennis Trudell once said, “Sloppy, raggedy ass old life. I love it, I never want to die.”
On a happy note, I also you tubed “Wolves and Lambs.” Probably been about 30 years since I last heard that absolute gem. I listened to the live version at the Capitol and then the studio version. Always loved that electric guitar riff just before the last stanza on the album.
The lyrics to that song also seemed to describe a lot of the feelings, “as the waves came crashing, miles apart,” I was wallowing in. For a moment at least, I was “lying awake and felt my body shake,” while reflecting those times where my “life once offered, so much more.”
I did break out into a broad smile this morning when the Old Town School of Folk Music finally put the tickets on sale for the Dec 19th show. Boy it sure would be nice if you dusted off Wolves and Lambs for that show.
I read this a few days ago and thought some before I posted. I attended a family reunion(my Mother’s side) at Ottumwa a few weeks back. My Mother is still alive and okay as well as my Uncle Errit, Aunt Maxine and Aunt Joe. I have lost three aunts on my Mom’s side, two on my Dad’s and my Dad as well just a few weeks before 911. I’m kind of glad he missed 911 even though I miss him. I have dozens of cousins and only a scant few have passed. At 60, I have to even consider my own mortality. Anyway, if there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s having to say goodbye a lot. That’s the price of sticking around a long time. I’d just as soon have it that way and I’m in no hurry for folks to say goodbye to me. May Heaven bless you and yours, Jorma.
Jorma- I’m sorry for your loss. May her memory be a blessing to you and your family.
Sorry for your loss Captain and family.
That could be doable. Reserved seating?@Joey Hudoklin
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival. Golden Gate Park. Sat. Oct. 3.
Time: Unclear
@jim hitchcock
Which night is the electric show?@Joey Hudoklin
So sorry for your loss Jorma
And, yes, I DO believe in such things
Hoping you and yours have a great Labor Day Weekend
B
Such well written words of love.
Sh’ma Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad
Jorma & Family
Very sadden to hear of your loss. Death sucks. It sucks everything out of us when someone near & dear has taken the final road. My heart & prayers are with you all.
Peace&Love
Trisha
Peace
Love All Ways
Sorry for your families loss
the memories live on
Beautiful words Jorma
What I found is the older I get the more aunts, uncles and even cousins are leaving us – hopefully they all go to heaven. Pray for their souls.
Jorma and Family,
Very sorry to hear about your loss….
Treasure her memories…
And I saw that tour at the Santa Monica Civic. Jorma’s amp went on the fritz during I See The Light, leading to a 20 minute Jack solo that still makes me shake my head in delight.
Ah, I just set up my vacation for the week of the 12th, but that certainly does appeal!
@jim hitchcock
So, Jim…now I see that we live somewhat in proximity of each other. (Me Santa Cruz).
I will be attending the Tuna shows (Acoustic & Electric) in SF Oct. 2nd & 3rd.
Maybe we can arrange to meet up.
I’m getting psyched…I havn’t seen the boys since the last Beacon. (Which was one of the best shows ever).
Havn’t seen Power Trio since ’77 Palladium.
Psyched!
Sorry for your loss. I’m sure she’s up in heaven now smiling down on you and us all.
My sincere condolences Jorma.
She sounds like a wonderful lady.
Beautiful.
My Aunt Mary, the last of my old guard, is living her 95th year in Reno, just North of me. She’s down to one leg and four toes, so it goes. She still reads many of the same books I do 🙂
Jorma sounds like she left a wonderful impression upon you-probably led you in rightious thought infecting your music which you shared with us. Thanks from our hearts for sharing.
Sorry for your loss.
‘For what is your life but a vapor that appears for a little while and then disappears”
Sorry for your loss,I have no doubt she was a great inspiration to you and your family.